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Little Known Inventions Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about all kinds of inventions, many of which we use every day.

A multiple-choice quiz by bullymom. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
bullymom

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
77,713

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
10 / 20

Plays
4076

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. What groovy item was invented by Englishman Edward Craven Walker in 1963? Hint

Leisure suit

Lava lamp

Eight-track tape deck

Hot comb

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Question 2 of 20

2. Ralph Samuelson was only 18 when he invented this sporting item in 1922. Hint

Water skis

Hang glider

Motorboat

Golf tee

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Question 3 of 20

3. What piece of clothing was invented by French fashion designer Louis Reard in 1946? Hint

Mini-skirt

Bikini

Tank top

Zoot suit

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Question 4 of 20

4. What invention was first installed at a Hartford, Connecticut bank in 1889? Hint

Time-lock safe

Automatic teller machine

Pay telephone

Burglar alarm

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Question 5 of 20

5. What furniture item was invented by California furniture designer Charles Prior Hall in 1968? Hint

Sofa bed

Captain's chair

Waterbed

Hammock

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Question 6 of 20

6. What plaything was invented by Joe McVicker in 1956? Hint

Etch-A-Sketch

Silly Putty

Play-Doh

Lite-Brite

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Question 7 of 20

7. What beverage was invented by Charles Alderton in 1885 in Waco, Texas? Hint

Coca-Cola

Dr. Pepper

Sprite

Cream soda

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Question 8 of 20

8. What did cardiologist Dr. Paul Zoll invent in Massachusetts in 1952? Hint

EKG

Pacemaker

Artificial heart

Artificial heart valve

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Question 9 of 20

9. What invention by Garnet Carter made its debut at the Fairyland Inn Resort in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, in 1927? Hint

Golf cart

Ski lift

Miniature golf

Swimming pool slide

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Question 10 of 20

10. What toy was invented by Joshua Lionel Cowen around 1900? Hint

Yo-yo

Electric train

Tinkertoys

Raggedy Ann doll

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Question 11 of 20

11. What treat was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905? Hint

Cracker Jacks

Cotton candy

Popsicle

Banana split

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Question 12 of 20

12. What item of apparel was popularized by Ellery Chun, a Hawaiian clothing merchant, from 1931 onwards - so successfully that he is often mistakenly credited with inventing it? Hint

Muumuu

String bikini

Capri pants

Aloha shirt

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Question 13 of 20

13. What now-ubiquitous device was invented by Zenith engineer Eugene Polley in 1955? Hint

Microwave oven

Remote control

VCR

Calculator

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Question 14 of 20

14. What 'game' was first produced by the Southern Novelty Company in Baltimore, Maryland in 1892? Hint

Frisbee

Monopoly

Ouija board

Ping Pong

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Question 15 of 20

15. What item, originally called the 'Whirlwind', was invented by Ives McGaffey in 1869? Hint

Blender

Vacuum cleaner

Washing machine

Electric mixer

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Question 16 of 20

16. What device for new parents did Ann Moore invent in 1969? Hint

Bottle warmer

Infant carrier

Disposable diaper

Baby monitor

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Question 17 of 20

17. What office item was invented by Bette Nesmith Graham in 1951? Hint

Stapler

Liquid Paper

Copy machine

Fax machine

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Question 18 of 20

18. What drink was invented by Charles Leiper Grigg in 1929? Hint

Pepsi

Hawaiian Punch

Yoo-Hoo

7-Up

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Question 19 of 20

19. What charge card, developed in 1950, was the first to be accepted nationally in the US? Hint

Diner's Club

MasterCharge

Visa

Discover

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Question 20 of 20

20. What toy did George Lerner create for Hasbro company in 1952? Hint

Mr. Potato Head

Hula hoop

Talking baby doll

Sit and Spin

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What groovy item was invented by Englishman Edward Craven Walker in 1963?

Answer: Lava lamp

Groovy, baby! Lava lamps, which were a fixture in every hip pad in the 1960s and 70s, featured a mixture of water and colored oil that created swirl patterns when heated by a light bulb.

2. Ralph Samuelson was only 18 when he invented this sporting item in 1922.

Answer: Water skis

The new item was first used on Lake Pepin in Minnesota.

3. What piece of clothing was invented by French fashion designer Louis Reard in 1946?

Answer: Bikini

The bikini, a two-piece swimsuit named for the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, made its debut on July 5, 1946.

4. What invention was first installed at a Hartford, Connecticut bank in 1889?

Answer: Pay telephone

William Gray, inventor of the pay telephone, also invented the inflatable chest protector worn by baseball umpires and catchers.

5. What furniture item was invented by California furniture designer Charles Prior Hall in 1968?

Answer: Waterbed

6. What plaything was invented by Joe McVicker in 1956?

Answer: Play-Doh

The stuff was originally intended to be wallpaper cleaner! (I used to eat this as a child)

7. What beverage was invented by Charles Alderton in 1885 in Waco, Texas?

Answer: Dr. Pepper

The cherry-flavored cola made its debut at Morrison's Old Corner Drugstore.

8. What did cardiologist Dr. Paul Zoll invent in Massachusetts in 1952?

Answer: Pacemaker

The pacemaker is an electrical device that regulates the heartbeat.

9. What invention by Garnet Carter made its debut at the Fairyland Inn Resort in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, in 1927?

Answer: Miniature golf

It was originally called 'Tom Thumb Golf'.

10. What toy was invented by Joshua Lionel Cowen around 1900?

Answer: Electric train

His middle name, Lionel, is the source of the Lionel Train brand name.

11. What treat was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905?

Answer: Popsicle

It was originally called the 'Epsicle' in his honor. (I can see why that name didn't catch on).

12. What item of apparel was popularized by Ellery Chun, a Hawaiian clothing merchant, from 1931 onwards - so successfully that he is often mistakenly credited with inventing it?

Answer: Aloha shirt

An Aloha shirt is a brightly colored tropical print shirt that is a popular souvenir of Hawaii.

13. What now-ubiquitous device was invented by Zenith engineer Eugene Polley in 1955?

Answer: Remote control

The first wireless remote control for television was called Flashmatic. (Remember when you had to get up to change the channel?)

14. What 'game' was first produced by the Southern Novelty Company in Baltimore, Maryland in 1892?

Answer: Ouija board

The board was invented by Isaac and William Fuld. The word 'Ouija' comes from the French and German words for 'yes', 'oui' and 'ja'.

15. What item, originally called the 'Whirlwind', was invented by Ives McGaffey in 1869?

Answer: Vacuum cleaner

16. What device for new parents did Ann Moore invent in 1969?

Answer: Infant carrier

Ann got the idea for the Snugli infant carrier from the traditional African baby carriers she observed while a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Africa.

17. What office item was invented by Bette Nesmith Graham in 1951?

Answer: Liquid Paper

Bette's other claim to fame was being the mother of Michael Nesmith of the Monkees.

18. What drink was invented by Charles Leiper Grigg in 1929?

Answer: 7-Up

Grigg, who was from Missouri, originally named his creation 'Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda'.

19. What charge card, developed in 1950, was the first to be accepted nationally in the US?

Answer: Diner's Club

The card was invented by Frank McNamara and Ralph Schneider.

20. What toy did George Lerner create for Hasbro company in 1952?

Answer: Mr. Potato Head

The first Mr. Potato Head contain plastic and felt pieces for the eyes, ears, mouth, nose and facial hair as well as glasses, hats, hands and feet that you could stick into a real potato. The potato did not come as part of the package.

A plastic potato-shaped body was added to the product in 1964.

Source: Author bullymom

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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